Southwest Chief and Pacific Surfliner questions

[Casinocim]

Hey all,

In about a couple of weeks I will finally be on the Southwest Chief! I am so excitied. I was only able to afford a Roomette on the way out to L.A. Wasn't sure whether to book the roomette on my way out or way home. Decided on way out, start my vacation out right. Still bummed I have to ride Greyhound, I keep thinking they will screw up my train ride somehow, I don't have a lot of faith in them. But I have the train to look forward to. And the same trip in June!

I have a couple of questions since it has been years for an overnighter.

In looking at the roomettes, it shows a small closet, I am assuming they have hangers. Or should I bring a couple?

Since we have a lay over in Albuquerque, are there any places close by for an iced coffee?

Also in Los Angeles for my return trip.

Also a question for the Pacific Surfliner, which I will be on in June. I have a reserved seat in business class.

I'm guessing they have a space to put luggage? I don't think I can check them at the Anaheim station.

I have been searching on these forums on and off all day. Thanks to everyone who posts answers.

It would not even have dawned on me to tip the sleeper attendant.

 

[RailFanLNK]

There's always been a hangar in the closet when I have booked a roomette, but how hard is it to carry one or two plastic hangars with you? I would do that to be on the safe side. Remember, you can always try to upgrade on the SWC going home for a roomette. Once the train is rolling you can inquire with the conductor on the availability. They will always be sold at the lowest bucket rate if the train is rolling and your onboard. Remember, the roomette is also your meals as well, it might not be as expensive as you think when you throw in 5 or 6 meals depending on how many meals are served when you board and detrain. Have fun!

 

[Casinocim]

There's always been a hangar in the closet when I have booked a roomette, but how hard is it to carry one or two plastic hangars with you? I would do that to be on the safe side. Remember, you can always try to upgrade on the SWC going home for a roomette. Once the train is rolling you can inquire with the conductor on the availability. They will always be sold at the lowest bucket rate if the train is rolling and your onboard. Remember, the roomette is also your meals as well, it might not be as expensive as you think when you throw in 5 or 6 meals depending on how many meals are served when you board and detrain. Have fun!

Ok, so that was probably a silly question. :blush: More of asking if there really is a closet in the small roomette.

I don't know about another roomette, have one for one way in June. $198 to me is a lot for a night, if it were just that, ok, but you still have to pay rail fare. Soooo $300 for a night. In my dreams, perhaps.

maybe I'll do well in the casino on the ship!!

 

[sportbiker]

Also a question for the Pacific Surfliner, which I will be on in June. I have a reserved seat in business class. I'm guessing they have a space to put luggage? I don't think I can check them at the Anaheim station.

Anaheim will check bags on the southbound Surfliners 768, 572, 774 and 796. Northbound, you can check bags on the 763, 565, 775, 583, 587, and 589 trains. Beyond that, each coach has a large multi-shelf luggage rack at at least on end (don't remember if they're at both ends). And don't forget the overhead racks.

 

[AlanB]

Some of the sleeping cars have a small thin closet, other's just have a big metal hook that you can hang stuff on and a strap to keep it from swaying. There is no way to predict which type of car you'll get.

There is definately space for your luggage on the Surfliner, including overhead storage, as well as a luggage rack.

And I'm not sure about the ABQ question, but a lot will also depend on whether you're on time or not. I would also suspect that you could ask your attendant for ice to put in a cup before you poor coffee over it. When you're in the sleeper that should be no problem at all, especially since you get free coffee. Coach might make it harder though.

 

[sunchaser]

There's always been a hangar in the closet when I have booked a roomette, but how hard is it to carry one or two plastic hangars with you? I would do that to be on the safe side. Remember, you can always try to upgrade on the SWC going home for a roomette. Once the train is rolling you can inquire with the conductor on the availability. They will always be sold at the lowest bucket rate if the train is rolling and your onboard. Remember, the roomette is also your meals as well, it might not be as expensive as you think when you throw in 5 or 6 meals depending on how many meals are served when you board and detrain. Have fun!

Ok, so that was probably a silly question. :blush: More of asking if there really is a closet in the small roomette.

I don't know about another roomette, have one for one way in June. $198 to me is a lot for a night, if it were just that, ok, but you still have to pay rail fare. Soooo $300 for a night. In my dreams, perhaps.

maybe I'll do well in the casino on the ship!!

Check out this link-

http://homepage.mac.com/wkaemena/FS/USA/Ro.../index_swf.html

It shows both a hook & small closet (behind the curtain on the right side)...It may not have the closet, but you could put some things on the top bunk if you need to. Have tons of fun!!

Sunchaser

 

[sechs]

I've never checked luggage on the Surfliners, and have taken large hardsides with me. Never any problem with space; business class is even better.

 

[Carl]

No "closet" per se in the Superliner Roomette. There were two hangers.

There's a new Amtrak-Greyhound Station in Albuquerque. It had a short order grill. I do not know whether it offered "iced coffee."

Plenty of room on the Surfliner Business Class coach car for luggage.

I posted a trip report today -- "Southwest Chief - 2009 Report" -- but it's been moved to the Trip Report forum.

--chh

 

[abqdave]

There's a new Amtrak-Greyhound Station in Albuquerque. It had a short order grill. I do not know whether it offered "iced coffee."

You would think being in the dry, long-summered southwest that ABQ would have as many different delicious drinks as you could possibly think of...but...

When I first moved here many moons ago and asked for an iced coffee, you would have thought I was from another planet. The good-hearted person behind the counter, doing the best she could, gave me a cup of hot coffee and put ice in it. No kidding. And don't get me doing about caffeine free diet cola; still, to this day, you would be lucky in finding caffeine-free diet cola in 1 out of 4 stores. You can find caffeine-free, you can find diet... But if you want a burrito, that's a different story. You can get those anyplace, anytime, they are practically forced on you. But I digress.

There is a coffee shop in the Alvarado Transit Center, I haven't tried it. If you have enough time try java joe's http://www.downtownjavajoes.com/ (walk to Central then head west...you can tell directions by the Sandia Mountains...they are on the east side). If you have a little more time to go about 2 miles east of downtown...hop on the eastbound Rapid Ride red/766 and get off in 2 stops at the Frontier restaurant. Walk back one block west to Harvard St and try Winnings. The bus is $2 for a day pass. It runs every 11 minutes Mon-Sat. Catch the bus back at Yale & Central (another block or 2 west of Winnings). Be careful which bus you get on here, there are 2 Rapid Ride lines (red and blue), and they look the same. You want red.

Can't guarantee you will get iced coffee, but you will get good coffee. And our ice is pretty good, too. :lol:

 

[ScottC4746]

Hey all,
In about a couple of weeks I will finally be on the Southwest Chief! I am so excitied. I was only able to afford a Roomette on the way out to L.A. Wasn't sure whether to book the roomette on my way out or way home. Decided on way out, start my vacation out right. Still bummed I have to ride Greyhound, I keep thinking they will screw up my train ride somehow, I don't have a lot of faith in them. But I have the train to look forward to. And the same trip in June!

I have a couple of questions since it has been years for an overnighter.

In looking at the roomettes, it shows a small closet, I am assuming they have hangers. Or should I bring a couple?

Since we have a lay over in Albuquerque, are there any places close by for an iced coffee?

Also in Los Angeles for my return trip.

Also a question for the Pacific Surfliner, which I will be on in June. I have a reserved seat in business class.

I'm guessing they have a space to put luggage? I don't think I can check them at the Anaheim station.

I have been searching on these forums on and off all day. Thanks to everyone who posts answers.

It would not even have dawned on me to tip the sleeper attendant.

Depending on your time at LA, there is a very bad IMOHO coffee shop in the station and you are very close to Olivera Street which looks like a little street in Mexico with a very good restaurant (I don't recall the name I am afraid.)

 

[jackal]

Depending on your time at LA, there is a very bad IMOHO coffee shop in the station and you are very close to Olivera Street which looks like a little street in Mexico with a very good restaurant (I don't recall the name I am afraid.)

There are two major sit-down restaurants that I know of: La Golondrina and El Paseo. I've eaten at both, but the visits were separated by months or years, so it's hard to do a a direct comparison. I always tend to gravitate (my little tradition when visiting LAUS) to La Golondrina, and the reviews give it the slight edge.

There are also several walk-up quick-service stalls that are pretty good. Not entirely sure of their authenticity, but they're fun for the tourist.